So today while driving I noticed my wipers are starting to jerk instead of glide. The blade are newish and I seriously doubt that's the cause. I believe the spine in on the crank maybe stripping or the motor in general maybe going bad. I also noticed recently that instead of stopping an inch above the bottom windshield trim they are instead going all the way down to the trim sometimes causing a big "smack" when it does actually connect. id imagine like most there an adjustment for that, where's the adjustment and a little instruction would be great.

I haven't worked on wipers in a wagoner, is everything under the dash except the motor? how difficult is it to work on and do you have any suggestions?

First thing I would do is take everything apart, clean, inspect and lubricate.

I have not had a Wagoneer apart. Looking at the part catalog may be helpful. Typically the motor comes off as a unit, and there is a bellcrank extending under the dash that connects to an intermediate link. That link goes to a long link that connects to the two wiper pivots. Once you take the wiper blades and arms off, there is a nut on each pivot that you remove, and the pivot drops down into the dash. Then you have to snake the linkage out from under the dash. The links have bronze bushing set into the ends, and a clip of some sort that holds it all together.

tgreese wrote:First thing I would do is take everything apart, clean, inspect and lubricate.

I have not had a Wagoneer apart. Looking at the part catalog may be helpful. Typically the motor comes off as a unit, and there is a bellcrank extending under the dash that connects to an intermediate link. That link goes to a long link that connects to the two wiper pivots. Once you take the wiper blades and arms off, there is a nut on each pivot that you remove, and the pivot drops down into the dash. Then you have to snake the linkage out from under the dash. The links have bronze bushing set into the ends, and a clip of some sort that holds it all together.

Any updates on this? Mine have bumped from the time I bought it, but now the bottom pausing location of the blades will vary up and down (both vary the same direction and amount) from "Bonk!" to 2" above the bottom of the windshield.

Same here, my wipers started to act up on the 74, it bothered me at the beginning, but when I saw what it took to service them, I did not do anything, yes there is a lot a play, but with climate change it barely rains in the bay area...What I did to avoid the windshield gasket bong, shorter wiper blades, 13"...

letank wrote:Same here, my wipers started to act up on the 74, it bothered me at the beginning, but when I saw what it took to service them, I did not do anything, yes there is a lot a play, but with climate change it barely rains in the bay area...What I did to avoid the windshield gasket bong, shorter wiper blades, 13"...

It is the driver's side wiper that hits, and it hits with the center attachment area (part that locks to wiper arm). I'm sure there is some way to fix the issue as they will vary in their bottom of travel position by up to 2".

There are 2 tabs on both the drivers and passengers side of the linkage that make the wipers stop where theyre supposed to. Over time the tabs can bend outwards and the wipers will no longer work properly. My drivers tab bent and the wipers would stop in the middle of the windshield. Bending the tab back fixed it

kansasboy001 wrote:There are 2 tabs on both the drivers and passengers side of the linkage that make the wipers stop where theyre supposed to. Over time the tabs can bend outwards and the wipers will no longer work properly. My drivers tab bent and the wipers would stop in the middle of the windshield. Bending the tab back fixed it

Okay. This could be the problem. I'm guessing under the dash? I'll check into it.

My wipers vary where they stop, which, I would think would have to mean something has play somewhere. But regardless, this is a start.

Yes, the park function is part of the motor operation. If the wipers don't stop always on the right then they are wired wrong, or the contacts in the motor are kaput, or the motor is not grounded. I presume that '88 is the same as earlier years. There is a section in the TSM that covers this - you do have the TSM?

tgreese wrote:Yes, the park function is part of the motor operation. If the wipers don't stop always on the right then they are wired wrong, or the contacts in the motor are kaput, or the motor is not grounded. I presume that '88 is the same as earlier years. There is a section in the TSM that covers this - you do have the TSM?

Okay. I'll check the grounds. Do not have the tsm. Mine is 84, but I would think motors are similar? Any way to service the contacts?

I'd take the motor apart and look at it. The earlier motors I've seen have had a circuit board with copper traces and carbon contacts on the traces. These traces maintain the circuit until the wipers rotate to the park position.

Realize that the park function works by maintainig a ciruit in parallel with the switch, so the motor continues to run until it reaches the park position. The later vehicles could be more sophisticated, but the concept of the park circuit will remain.

tgreese wrote:I'd take the motor apart and look at it. The earlier motors I've seen have had a circuit board with copper traces and carbon contacts on the traces. These traces maintain the circuit until the wipers rotate to the park position.

Realize that the park function works by maintainig a ciruit in parallel with the switch, so the motor continues to run until it reaches the park position. The later vehicles could be more sophisticated, but the concept of the park circuit will remain.

Okay, so if the park position moves around, i'm looking for corrosion or worn contact points?